System and method for providing massaging within a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing massaging within a vehicle that include determining at least one position and at least one movement of a driver seated within a seat of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining at least one strenuous driving activity associated with the driver. The system and method additionally include determining at least one tension point associated with the driver. The system and method further include processing a massaging plan that is based on the at least one tension point and controlling at least one massaging element disposed within the seat of the vehicle to provide massaging based on the massaging plan.

BACKGROUND

Currently vehicles may be equipped with massaging seats that may beconfigured to generally massage backs of drivers as they drive thevehicles. Such seats may generally provide massaging that isaccomplished by vibration that is directed to one or more portions ofthe driver's seat. However, a key limitation to the massaging seats arethat they only provide vibration to one or more areas of the backs ofthe drivers. Consequently, the massaging seats may not provide specificand customized relief that may alleviate tension associated with one ormore areas of each driver's body as they drive the vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for providingmassaging within a vehicle that includes determining at least oneposition and at least one movement of a driver seated within a seat ofthe vehicle. The computer-implemented method also includes determiningat least one strenuous driving activity associated with the driver. Thecomputer-implemented method additionally includes determining at leastone tension point associated with the driver. The at least one tensionpoint is based on at least one of: the at least one position of thedriver, the at least one movement of the driver, and the at least onestrenuous driving activity associated with the driver. Thecomputer-implemented method further includes processing a massaging planthat is based on the at least one tension point and controlling at leastone massaging element disposed within the seat of the vehicle to providemassaging based on the massaging plan.

According to another aspect, a system for providing massaging within avehicle that includes a memory storing instructions when executed by aprocessor that cause the processor to determine at least one positionand at least one movement of a driver seated within a seat of thevehicle. The instructions also cause the processor to determine at leastone strenuous driving activity associated with the driver. Theinstructions additionally cause the processor to determine at least onetension point associated with the driver. The at least one tension pointis based on at least one of: the at least one position of the driver,the at least one movement of the driver, and the at least one strenuousdriving activity associated with the driver. The instructions furthercause the processor to process a massaging plan that is based on the atleast one tension point and control at least one massaging elementdisposed within the seat of the vehicle to provide massaging based onthe massaging plan.

According to still another aspect, non-transitory computer readablestorage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer,which includes a processor perform a method that includes determining atleast one position and at least one movement of a driver seated within aseat of a vehicle. The method also includes determining at least onestrenuous driving activity associated with the driver. The methodadditionally includes determining at least one tension point associatedwith the driver. The at least one tension point is based on at least oneof: the at least one position of the driver, the at least one movementof the driver, and the at least one strenuous driving activityassociated with the driver. The method further includes processing amassaging plan that is based on the at least one tension point andcontrolling at least one massaging element disposed within the seat ofthe vehicle to provide massaging based on the massaging plan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an operating environment for providingmassaging within a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of massaging elements disposed within aseat of the vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram of a method for determining positions,movements, and one or more strenuous driving activities associated witha driver according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of a method for processing andexecuting a massage plan according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a method for providing massagingwithin the vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein.The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components thatfall within the scope of a term and that can be used for implementation.The examples are not intended to be limiting.

A “bus”, as used herein, refers to an interconnected architecture thatis operably connected to other computer components inside a computer orbetween computers. The bus can transfer data between the computercomponents. The bus can be a memory bus, a memory controller, aperipheral bus, an external bus, a crossbar switch, and/or a local bus,among others. The bus can also be a vehicle bus that interconnectscomponents inside a vehicle using protocols such as Media OrientedSystems Transport (MOST), Controller Area network (CAN), LocalInterconnect Network (LIN), among others.

“Computer communication”, as used herein, refers to a communicationbetween two or more computing devices (e.g., computer, personal digitalassistant, cellular telephone, network device) and can be, for example,a network transfer, a file transfer, an applet transfer, an email, ahypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) transfer, and so on. A computercommunication can occur across, for example, a wireless system (e.g.,IEEE 802.11), an Ethernet system (e.g., IEEE 802.3), a token ring system(e.g., IEEE 802.5), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a point-to-point system, a circuit switching system, a packetswitching system, among others.

A “disk”, as used herein can be, for example, a magnetic disk drive, asolid state disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a tape drive, a Zip drive,a flash memory card, and/or a memory stick. Furthermore, the disk can bea CD-ROM (compact disk ROM), a CD recordable drive (CD-R drive), a CDrewritable drive (CD-RW drive), and/or a digital video ROM drive (DVDROM). The disk can store an operating system that controls or allocatesresources of a computing device.

A “database”, as used herein can refer to table, a set of tables, and aset of data stores and/or methods for accessing and/or manipulatingthose data stores. Some databases can be incorporated with a disk asdefined above.

A “memory”, as used herein can include volatile memory and/ornon-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include, for example, ROM(read only memory), PROM (programmable read only memory), EPROM(erasable PROM), and EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM). Volatilememory can include, for example, RAM (random access memory), synchronousRAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double datarate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DRRAM). The memory canstore an operating system that controls or allocates resources of acomputing device.

A “module”, as used herein, includes, but is not limited to,non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions,instructions in execution on a machine, hardware, firmware, software inexecution on a machine, and/or combinations of each to perform afunction(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action fromanother module, method, and/or system. A module may also include logic,a software controlled microprocessor, a discrete logic circuit, ananalog circuit, a digital circuit, a programmed logic device, a memorydevice containing executing instructions, logic gates, a combination ofgates, and/or other circuit components. Multiple modules may be combinedinto one module and single modules may be distributed among multiplemodules.

An “operable connection”, or a connection by which entities are“operably connected”, is one in which signals, physical communications,and/or logical communications can be sent and/or received. An operableconnection can include a wireless interface, a physical interface, adata interface and/or an electrical interface.

A “processor”, as used herein, processes signals and performs generalcomputing and arithmetic functions. Signals processed by the processorcan include digital signals, data signals, computer instructions,processor instructions, messages, a bit, a bit stream, or other meansthat can be received, transmitted and/or detected. Generally, theprocessor can be a variety of various processors including multiplesingle and multicore processors and co-processors and other multiplesingle and multicore processor and co-processor architectures. Theprocessor can include various modules to execute various functions.

A “portable device”, as used herein, is a computing device typicallyhaving a display screen with user input (e.g., touch, keyboard) and aprocessor for computing. Portable devices include, but are not limitedto, handheld devices, mobile devices, smart phones, laptops, tablets ande-readers. In some embodiments, a “portable device” could refer to aremote device that includes a processor for computing and/or acommunication interface for receiving and transmitting data remotely.

A “vehicle”, as used herein, refers to any moving vehicle that iscapable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by anyform of energy. The term “vehicle” includes, but is not limited to:cars, trucks, vans, minivans, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, boats,go-karts, amusement ride cars, rail transport, personal watercraft, andaircraft. In some cases, a motor vehicle includes one or more engines.Further, the term “vehicle” can refer to an electric vehicle (EV) thatis capable of carrying one or more human occupants and is poweredentirely or partially by one or more electric motors powered by anelectric battery. The EV can include battery electric vehicles (BEV) andplug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The term “vehicle” can alsorefer to an autonomous vehicle and/or self-driving vehicle powered byany form of energy. The autonomous vehicle may or may not carry one ormore human occupants. Further, the term “vehicle” can include vehiclesthat are automated or non-automated with pre-determined paths orfree-moving vehicles.

A “value” and “level”, as used herein can include, but is not limitedto, a numerical or other kind of value or level such as a percentage, anon-numerical value, a discrete state, a discrete value, a continuousvalue, among others. The term “value of X” or “level of X” as usedthroughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to anynumerical or other kind of value for distinguishing between two or morestates of X. For example, in some cases, the value or level of X may begiven as a percentage between 0% and 100%. In other cases, the value orlevel of X could be a value in the range between 1 and 10. In stillother cases, the value or level of X may not be a numerical value, butcould be associated with a given discrete state, such as “not X”,“slightly x”, “x”, “very x” and “extremely x”.

I. System Overview

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating one or more exemplary embodiments and not for purposes oflimiting the same, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an operatingenvironment for providing massaging within a vehicle 102 according to anexemplary embodiment. The components of the environment 100, as well asthe components of other systems, hardware architectures, and softwarearchitectures discussed herein, may be combined, omitted, or organizedinto different architectures for various embodiments.

Generally, the vehicle 102 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 104that executes or accesses a seat massaging execution application 106(seat massaging application). For purposes of simplicity, thisdisclosure describes the application 106 as being utilized with respectto provide massaging of the driver 122 of the vehicle 102 that is seatedwithin a driver's seat (seat) 110. However, it is to be appreciated thatapplication 106 may be utilized with respect to a non-driving passengerof the vehicle 102 that may be seated in a front non-driving passengerseat or rear passenger seats (not shown) of the vehicle 102.Additionally, it is appreciated that the application 106 may be utilizedto provide massaging at one or more additional areas of the vehicle 102(e.g., at an arm rest of a door of the vehicle 102).

In an exemplary embodiment, the seat massaging application 106 maycommunicate with seat sensors 108 that are disposed within the seat 110,steering wheel sensors 112 that disposed within a steering wheel 114 ofthe vehicle 102, gear shift sensors 116 that are disposed within a gearshifter 118 of the vehicle 102, and/or one or more cameras 138 that aredisposed within an interior cabin (cabin) 120 of the vehicle 102. Asdiscussed below, the sensors 108, 112, 116 and/or the camera(s) 138 mayprovide one or more signals that may include driver disposition datathat is associated with the driver 122 of the vehicle 102 seated withinthe seat 110.

The driver disposition data may indicate the positions of one or moreareas (e.g., body parts) of the driver's body seated within the seat 110(e.g., positions of the driver's back, the driver's arms, the driver'shead, etc.) sensed/captured during a predetermined period of time (e.g.,30 minutes). The driver disposition data may additionally includemovements of one or more areas of the driver's body (e.g., movements ofthe driver's arms, the driver's head, the driver's neck, etc.)sensed/captured during the predetermined period of time. The seatmassaging application 106 may additionally communicate with a pluralityof vehicle dynamic sensors 124 that may provide vehicle dynamic dataassociated the vehicle 102 that is sensed during the predeterminedperiod of time.

As discussed below, the seat massaging application 106 may utilize thedata associated with the positions of one or more areas of the driver'sbody, the movements of one or more areas of the driver's body, and thevehicle dynamic data to determine one or more strenuous drivingactivities that are associated with the driver 122. In one or moreembodiments, the seat massaging application 106 may additionallyevaluate the positions and durations of the positions of one or moreareas of the driver's body, the movements and durations of the movementsof one or more areas of the driver's body, and the one or more strenuousdriving activities and related durations to determine one or moretension points.

The one or more tension points may be determined as specific areas ofthe driver's body that may be substantially utilized (e.g., tense,tired) as the driver 122 is seated within the seat 110 based on thedriver's prolonged seating positions, movements, and driving maneuversassociated to one or more strenuous driving activities. The seatmassaging application 106 may process and execute a massaging plan(e.g., executable data file) to massage the driver 122 seated within theseat 110. In particular, the massaging plan may include instructions toactuate one or more massaging elements (shown in FIG. 2) at one or moreregions of the seat 110 and in one or more manners (e.g., frequencies,intensities) that may be utilized to massage one or more specific areasof the driver's body pertaining to the one or more tension points.

With reference to the components of the vehicle 102, the ECU 104 mayinclude internal processing memory (not shown), an interface circuit(not shown), and bus lines (not shown) for transferring data, sendingcommands, and communicating with components of the vehicle 102 and theseat massaging application 106. The ECU 104 may also include acommunications device (not shown) for sending data internally in thevehicle 102 and externally to connected devices.

The communication device included within the ECU 104 may be capable ofproviding wired or wireless computer communications utilizing variousprotocols to send/receive electronic signals internally to/fromcomponents of the vehicle 102. Additionally, the communication device ofthe ECU 104 may be operably connected for internal computercommunication via a bus (e.g., a Controller Area Network (CAN) or aLocal Interconnect Network (LIN) protocol bus) to facilitate data inputand output between the ECU 104 and the components of the vehicle 102.

The ECU 104 may be operably connected to a storage unit 126 that maystore one or more operating systems, applications, associated operatingsystem data, user interfaces, and the like that are executed by the ECU104. In an exemplary embodiment, the storage unit 126 may store data(e.g., executable data files) that are associated with the seatmassaging application 106 to be executed by the ECU 104.

In one embodiment, the storage unit 126 may be utilized by theapplication 106 to store a code lookup table 128 that stores one or morepredetermined code values that correspond to the positional parameterspertaining to positions of one or more areas of the driver's body,movement parameters pertaining to movements of one or more areas of thedriver's body, and values associated with the one or more strenuousdriving activities. As discussed below, the application 106 may accessthe code lookup table 128 to determine predetermined code values thatcorrespond to the positions, movements, and/or strenuous drivingactivities associated with the driver 122 seated within the seat 110.

The storage unit 126 may also be utilized by the application 106 tostore a tension point map 130 that may include data that maps thepredetermined code values to one or more (pre-stored) tension pointsassociated with the driver's body. In other words, the tension point map130 may be utilized to determine one or more tension points associatedwith the driver's body based on data represented by the predeterminedcode values regarding substantial usage of one or more areas of thedriver's body pertaining to positions, movements, and one or morestrenuous driving activities as sensed/captured for the predeterminedperiod of time.

In particular, the one or more tension points may correspond to one ormore areas of the driver's body (e.g., upper neck, mid-neck, lower neck,left shoulder, right shoulder, upper-left back, upper-middle back,upper-right back, etc.) that may be determined as being substantiallyutilized. As discussed in more detail below, the one or more tensionpoints may be based on the positions and the durations of the positionsof one or more areas of the driver's body, the movements and thedurations of the movements of one or more areas of the driver's body,and/or the strenuous driving activities and the durations of strenuousdriving activities associated with one or more areas of the driver'sbody.

In one embodiment, the ECU 104 may be operably connected to a head unit132 that may access the one or more applications and operating systemsthat are executed by the ECU 104. The head unit 132 may include adisplay unit 134 that may be positioned to present one or more userinterfaces to the driver 122 seated within the seat 110. In someconfigurations, the display unit 134 may include a touch screen display(not shown) that may receive touch based user inputs from the driver 122that may apply to the one or more user interfaces that are presented viathe display unit 134.

In one or more embodiments, the display unit 134 may be utilized topresent one or more user interfaces associated with the seat massagingapplication 106 that may allow the driver 122 to enable an automatedmassaging mode of the application 106. The automated massaging mode maybe enabled by the driver 122 to allow the application 106 to provideautomated massaging that is directed to one or more regions of the seat110 to massage particular areas of the driver's body based on themassaging plan processed by the application 106. In some embodiments,the display unit 134 may be also utilized to present one or more userinterfaces associated with the application 106 that may allow the driver122 to enable the application 106 to provide a manual massaging mode.The manual massaging mode may be directed to one or more regions of theseat 110 to generally massage one or more areas of the driver's bodybased on manual inputs (e.g., manually selected massaging settings).

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the massaging elements 202 disposedwithin the seat 110 of the vehicle 102 according to an exemplaryembodiment. In one embodiment, the massaging elements 202 (types ofmassaging elements 202 not shown) may include respective motors (notshown) that each include a processing unit (not shown) that is operablyconnected to send and receive data to/from the ECU 104. As discussedbelow, the ECU 104 and/or the seat massaging application 106 may sendcommands to one or more of the massaging elements 202 to be actuated toprovide one or more types of massaging actions.

In one or more configurations, the massaging elements 202 may include,but may not be limited to, disc shaped elements, ball shaped elements,air filled elements, liquid filled elements, rollers, and the like. Inone embodiment, the massaging elements 202 may be utilized to providevarious types of massaging techniques including, but not limited to,kneading, knocking, tapping, rubbing, pressing, vibrating, rolling,compression, percussion, and the like. In some configurations, themassaging elements 202 may include heating elements and/or coolingelements (not shown) that may be actuated to provide heating and/orcooling at one or more areas of the driver's body as the driver 122 isseated within the seat 110.

As shown in the illustrative view of FIG. 2, the massaging elements 202may be disposed at one or more regions 204-218 of the seat 110 that areutilized by the application 106 to provide massaging to particular areasof the driver's body. It is contemplated that the application 106 mayutilize any number of regions in addition to or in lieu of the regions204-218 that are provided at one or more portions of the seat 110. Asdiscussed below, the seat massaging application 106 may determine themassaging plan and may execute the massaging plan to control the one ormore of the massaging elements 202 to be actuated at one or more of theregions 204-218 of the seat 110 to provide various types of massagingactions.

In some embodiments, the massaging actions may include, but may not belimited to, manually enabled massaging actions that are selected by thedriver 122 through the one or more user interfaces of the application106 to provide massaging relief to one or more areas of the driver'sbody per the driver's preference (e.g., driver selected lower backmassage). The massaging actions may additionally include defaultmassaging actions that may be provided to generally massage numerousareas of the driver's body within the seat 110 (e.g., rolling massagethat covers the neck and entire back of the driver 122). Additionally,the massaging actions may include one or more types of tension reliefmassaging actions that may provide massaging relief and comfort to thedriver 122 to relieve one or more tension points, as determined by theapplication 106 (e.g., various types of massaging techniques that coverthe determined tension point of the driver's neck). It is contemplatedthat the seat massaging application 106 may include one or moreadditional types of massaging actions that may be utilized to massagethe driver 122 seated within the seat 110 in one or more manners.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the ECU 104 may beoperably connected to a plurality of vehicle systems 136. The pluralityof vehicle systems 136 may include, but may not be limited to,(individual vehicle systems not shown), a vehicle audio system, avehicle lighting system, a vehicle HVAC system, a vehicle infotainmentsystem, and the like. In some embodiments, the seat massagingapplication 106 may be configured to control one or more of theplurality of vehicle systems 136 to be utilized in accordance with theone or more determined positions and movements of one or more areas ofthe driver's body and/or the massaging plan determined by theapplication 106. For example, the seat massaging application 106 mayoperably control the vehicle audio system to play a specifictrack/station associated with relaxing music and may additionally enableone or more speakers and subwoofers to provide the music at a specificvolume, bass, and treble to enhance the comfort of the driver of thevehicle 102 as the application 106 actuates one or more of the massagingelements 202 to provide automated massaging of the driver 122.

With particular reference to the seat sensors 108, steering wheelsensors 112, and the gear shift sensors 116, the sensors 108 may beconfigured on one or more sensor pads (not shown) that may be includedwithin one or more regions 204-218 of the seat 110, one or more portionsof the steering wheel 114, and one or more portions of the gear shifter118. In an additional embodiment, the sensor pad(s) may be includedwithin one or more areas of the cabin 120 that are in close proximity tothe seat 110, the steering wheel 114, and/or the gear shifter 118. Forinstance, the one or more sensor pads that include the seat sensors 108may be located within a floor panel 140 that is located adjacent to theseat 110 or an arm rest (not shown) of a door (not shown) adjacent tothe seat 110. In one or more configurations, the sensor pad(s) may beincluded under a layer of covering/paneling (e.g., leather/clothcovering, plastic/wood/aluminum paneling) that is provided withinnumerous areas of the cabin 120. Additionally, the sensors 108, 112, 116may be positioned/disposed in various types of patterns on the sensorpad(s) to capture sensor data.

In one or more embodiments, the seat sensors 108, steering wheel sensors112, and the gear shift sensors 116 may include, but may not be limitedto capacitive touch sensors, electromyography (EEG) sensors, proximitysensors, weight sensors, and the like that are configured to sense dataassociated with the positions of one or more areas of the driver's bodyand the movements of one or more areas of the driver's body. Inparticular, the sensors 108, 112, 116 may be configured to sense thepositions and movement of various areas of the driver's body as thedriver 122 is seated within the seat 110 and is driving the vehicle 102.For example, the sensors 108, 112, 116 may be configured to sense thepositions and movements of the driver 122 as the driver 122 extendshis/her arm and grips the steering wheel 114, as the driver 122 turnsthe steering wheel, as the driver 122 lays back into the seat 110, asthe driver 122 rests his/her right hand on the gear shifter 118, as thedriver 122 moves his/her right leg to push an accelerator pedal (notshown) or brake pedal (not shown) and the like.

More specifically, the sensed movement and position may be based onmuscle movements of the driver 122, shifting of the driver's weight, thelocation of different areas/parts of the driver's body with respect tothe seat 110, the steering wheel 114, and the gear shifter 118, theposture of the driver 122 seated within the seat 110, the movement ofdifferent limbs of the driver 122, and the like. For example, capacitivesensors may be used to determine areas of the driver's body that may betouching regions of the seat 110 and the locations of the steering wheel114. Additionally, EEG sensors may be used to evaluate and recordelectrical activity produced by muscles within the driver's arms andback to determine muscle movements. In one embodiment, upon the sensingthe positions and movements of one or more areas of the driver's body,the seat sensors 108, steering wheel sensors 112, the gear shift sensors116 may output and communicate sensor data in the form of driverdisposition data to the ECU 104.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ECU 104 may also be operably connectedto the one or more cameras 138 that may be disposed within one or moreportions of the cabin 120 of the vehicle 102. The camera(s) 138 may beconfigured to capture one or more images/video of the cabin 120including the seat 110 to ensure that images/video of the driver 122 maybe captured as the driver 122 is seated within the seat 110. In oneembodiment, upon the camera(s) 138 capturing one or more images/video,the camera(s) 138 may be configured to execute image logic to determinethe positions and movements of one or more areas of the driver's body.In particular, the image logic may be executed by the camera(s) 138 tooutput driver disposition data to the ECU 104 that includes dataassociated with the positions and movements of one or more areas of thedriver's body (e.g., head, arms, legs, torso, legs) as the driver 122 isseated within the seat 110.

In an additional embodiment, the image logic may also be utilized todetermine a driver alertness level that may be based on eye movementdata, eye gaze data, and/or the positions and/or the movements of one ormore areas of the driver's body. In some embodiments, the application106 may control one or more of the massaging elements 202 to providetactile feedback as an alert that is used to notify the driver 122 basedon a low driver alertness level (e.g., lower than a predeterminedthreshold).

As discussed below, upon receiving the driver disposition data providedby the sensors 108, 112, 116, and the camera(s) 138 the driverdisposition data may be interpreted by the seat massaging application106 to determine the positional parameters and movement parameters asvalues that are associated with the sensed/captured positions andmovements of one or more areas of the driver's body. As an illustrativeexample, if the driver 122 is extending his/her arms to grasp thesteering wheel 114 and tilting his/her head and neck back towards a headrest 142 of the seat 110, the sensor data and/or the image data may beinterpreted to determine one or more positional parameters and movementparameters as values that indicate exact positions and movements of thedriver's arms, driver's neck, and the driver's head, among other areasof the driver's body. For instance, such parameters may be associatedwith the positions and movements of the driver's extended arms, tiltedneck, and tilted head with respect to the seat 110, the steering wheel114, and other components/locations within the cabin 120 of the vehicle102.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, in an exemplary embodiment, the ECU104 is additionally operably connected to the plurality of vehicledynamic sensors 124. The plurality of vehicle dynamic sensors 124 may beconfigured to provide vehicle dynamic data associated with driving ofthe vehicle 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of vehicledynamic sensors 124 may include, but may not be limited to, speedsensors, steering speed sensors, steering angle sensors, throttle anglesensors, accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, brake force sensors,wheel speed sensors, wheel turning angle sensors, yaw rate sensors,transmission gear sensors, RPM sensors, and the like (individual sensorsnot shown).

In one embodiment, the vehicle dynamic data may be outputted as one ormore values (e.g., numeric levels) that are associated with thereal-time dynamic performance of the vehicle 102 as the driver 122 isseated within the seat 110 and drives the vehicle 102. As discussedbelow, upon outputting vehicle dynamic data associated with driving ofthe vehicle 102, the plurality of vehicle dynamic sensors 124 maycommunicate the vehicle dynamic data to the ECU 104 that is received andfurther interpreted by the seat massaging application 106.

Upon receiving the vehicle dynamic data from the plurality of vehicledynamic sensors 124 the seat massaging application 106 may evaluate thevehicle dynamic data in addition to the positional parameters andmovement parameters to determine one or more strenuous drivingactivities that may be associated with one or more areas of the driver'sbody. As an illustrative example, the vehicle dynamic data may indicatethat the driver 122 has conducted numerous sharp right and left turnsbased on data provided by steering angle sensors, wheel turning anglesensors, and yaw rate sensors. The application 106 may utilize thevehicle dynamic data in addition to positional parameters and movementparameters to determine numerous driving maneuvers that are conducted bythe driver 122 using his/her right arm and hands to steer the steeringwheel 114 sharply to the right and left to conduct the numerous sharpturns. The application 106 may further determine such actions to bestrenuous driving activities that are associated with the driver's arms,shoulders, and upper back.

II. The Seat Massaging Execution Application

The seat massaging application 106 and its specific functionality willnow be described in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment. Inan exemplary embodiment, the seat massaging application 106 may bestored on the storage unit 126 and executed by the ECU 104 and/or thehead unit 132. In additional embodiments, the seat massaging application106 may be stored on a memory (not shown) of an external device (notshown) (e.g., remote server) and executed by the ECU 104 and/or the headunit 132 of the vehicle 102 via a computer communication medium (e.g.,remote network connection) between the ECU 104 and the external device.

In one or more embodiments, the seat massaging application 106 mayinclude a plurality of modules 144-150 that include, but may not belimited to, a driver disposition determinant module 144, a drivingactivity determinant module 146, a tension point determinant module 148,and a massage execution module 150. It is to be appreciated that theseat massaging application 106 may include additional modules and/orsub-modules of the plurality of modules 140-150. As discussed below,each of the plurality of modules 144-150 may complete computingprocessing functions as the seat massaging application 106 is operating.

In one embodiment, the seat massaging application 106 may beautomatically enabled to operate upon actuation of an accessory orignition mode of the vehicle 102. In an additional embodiment, the seatmassaging application 106 may be manually enabled to operate based on anenablement of the application 106 through the one or more interfacesassociated with the application 106 (via the display unit 134 or otherinput device of the vehicle 102). In an alternative embodiment, the seatmassaging application 106 may be enabled to operate upon the vehicle 102being put into a drive transmission mode, as determined by thetransmission gear sensors of the plurality of vehicle dynamic sensors124. As discussed above, the one or more user interfaces associated withthe seat massaging application 106 may allow the application 106 toenable the automated massaging mode and associated settings to thedriver 122 seated within the seat 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, upon enablement of the automated massagingmode, the plurality of modules 144-150 may execute computer commands toprovide automated massaging that is directed to one or more regions204-218 of the seat 110 to massage one or more areas of the driver'sbody. In one embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module 144may be configured to communicate with the ECU 104 to receive the driverdisposition data from the seat sensors 108, the steering wheel sensors112, the gear shift sensors 116, and/or the camera(s) 138. As discussedbelow, the driver disposition determinant module 144 may also beconfigured to evaluate the driver disposition data to determine thepositional parameters and movement parameters that are associated withpositions and movements of one or more areas of the driver's body duringa predetermined period of time. Upon determining the positionalparameters and the movement parameters, the driver dispositiondeterminant module 144 may be configured to communicate the positionalparameters and movement parameters to the driving activity determinantmodule 146 and the tension point determinant module 148.

In one embodiment, the driving activity determinant module 146 may beconfigured to receive vehicle dynamic data from the vehicle dynamicsensors 124 for a predetermined period of time. As discussed in moredetail below, the driving activity determinant module 146 may beconfigured to analyze the vehicle dynamic data received for thepredetermined period of time and may determine one or more drivingmaneuvers. The one or more driving maneuvers may be further evaluated bythe module 146 with respect to the positional parameters and themovement parameters to determine the one or more strenuous drivingactivities that are associated with one or more areas of the driver'sbody. Upon determining the one or more strenuous driving activities, thedriving activity determinant module 146 may be configured to communicatedata in the form of values (e.g., coordinate values associated withpositions, movements, and maneuvers) that are associated with the one ormore strenuous driving activities to the tension point determinantmodule 148.

In an exemplary embodiment, upon receipt of the positional parameters,movement parameters, and the data associated with the one or morestrenuous driving activities, the tension point determinant module 148may access the code lookup table 128 on the storage unit 126 and mayquery the table 128 to determine one or more predetermined code valuesthat correspond to the positional parameters, movement parameters, andvalues associated with the one or more strenuous driving activities. Inone embodiment, the predetermined code values may include specificcharacter and/or numerical designations (e.g., binary code) that may beassociated with particular positions of one or more areas of thedriver's body. Such positions may pertain to the driver's sittingposture, various specific positions associated with different areas ofthe driver's body (e.g., head position, neck position, back position,arm position etc.), the alignment of different areas of the driver'sbody with respect to the seat 110, the steering wheel 114, and the gearshifter 118, and additional values that may pertain to the dimensions ofthe areas of the driver's body (e.g., height of the driver, length ofarms, length of legs).

In one or more embodiments, the predetermined code values may alsoinclude specific character and/or numerical designations that may beassociated with particular movements of one or more areas of thedriver's body. Such movements may pertain to movement of various musclesof the driver's body, movements of various limbs of the driver's body,movements of various appendages of the driver's body, a degree ofmovement of the particular areas of the driver's body, a direction ofmovement of the particular areas of the driver's body, and the like.Additionally, the predetermine code values may include specificcharacter and/or numerical designations that may be associated with theone or more strenuous driving activities. In particular, thepredetermined code values may include specific character and/ornumerical designations that pertain to the positions and movements ofone or more areas of the driver's body that pertain to a number ofdriving maneuvers/driving related activities that may result insubstantial usage (e.g., causing tension) of one or more particularareas of the driver's body.

In one embodiment, the tension point determinant module 148 may convertthe positional parameters, movement parameters, and/or values associatedwith the one or more strenuous driving activities into the one or morecorresponding predetermined code values. The tension point determinantmodule 148 may additionally determine time duration (values) thatpertain to a duration of time associated with each of the predeterminedcode values converted by the tension point determinant module 148.

The tension point determinant module 148 may additionally access thetension point map 130 and may map the one or more predetermined codedvalues to one or more tension points that are associated with specificareas of the driver's body (e.g., right shoulder, neck, lower back) thatmay be substantially utilized based on the positions and the durationsof positions of the one or more areas of the driver's body, themovements and the durations of movements of the one or more areas of thedriver's body, and the one or more strenuous driving activities anddurations of such activities associated with the one or more areas ofthe driver's body. Upon determining the one or more tension points, thetension point determinant module 148 may be configured to communicaterespective data to the massage execution module 150 of the seatmassaging application 106.

In one or more embodiments, the massage execution module 150 may processthe massaging plan that includes instructions to actuate one or more ofthe massaging elements 202 at the one or more of the regions 204-218 ofthe seat 110 in one or more manners and at one or more durations. Inparticular, the massaging plan may include instructions to providevarious types of massaging actions that may be provided at one or moreregions 204-218 of the seat 110 by selectively actuating one or more ofthe massaging elements 202 in a certain order, timeframe, and durationto massage one or more specific areas of the driver's body that pertainto the one or more tension points associated with the driver 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, upon processing the massaging plan, themassage execution module 150 may communicate one or more commands to theECU 104 to control one or more of the massaging elements 202 disposedwithin the seat 110 to provide massaging to the driver's body based onthe massaging plan. In particular, the massage execution module 150 maycommunicate one or more commands to one or more massaging elements 202disposed within one or more regions 204-218 of the seat 110 to providevarious types of massaging actions by selectively actuating one or moreof the massaging elements 202 in a certain order, timeframe, andduration according to the massaging plan. The one or more massagingelements 202 may consequently massage one or more areas of the driver'sbody as the driver 122 is seated within the seat 110 to providemassaging at the one or more determined tension points associated withthe one or more areas of the driver's body.

In additional embodiments, the massage execution module 150 may alsosend one or more commands to the plurality of vehicle systems 136 tocontrol one or more of the plurality of vehicle systems 136 to beutilized in accordance with the one or more determined positions andmovements of one or more areas of the driver's body and/or the massagingplan as determined by the application 106.

III. Exemplary Methods Executed by the Seat Massaging ExecutionApplication

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram of a method 300 for determiningpositions, movements, and one or more strenuous driving activitiesassociated with the driver 122 according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the components of FIG. 1,though it is to be appreciated that the method 300 of FIG. 3 may be usedwith additional and/or alternative system components. The method 300 maybegin at block 302, wherein the method 300 includes receiving driverdisposition data for a predetermined period of time.

In an exemplary embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module144 may communicate with the ECU 104 of the vehicle 102 to receive thedriver disposition data from the seat sensors 108, the steering wheelsensors 112, the gear shift sensors 116 and/or the camera(s) 138. Asdiscussed above, upon sensing the positions and movements of variousareas of the driver's body, the seat sensors 108, steering wheel sensors112, the gear shift sensors 116 may output and communicate sensor datain the form of driver disposition data to the ECU 104. Additionally,upon capturing one or more images/video, the camera(s) 138 may executeimage logic to determine the positions and movements of areas of thedriver's body and may output driver disposition data to the ECU 104.

In one embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module 144 mayreceive the driver disposition data from the sensors 108, 112, 116and/or the camera(s) 138 for a predetermined period of time. In someembodiments, the predetermined period of time may include a plurality oftimeframes that may be determined in one or more trips of the vehicle102. In other words, the data sensed and/or captured for thepredetermined period of time may or may not include data that is sensedand/or captured during a continuous (e.g., uninterrupted) period oftime.

The driver disposition data may indicate the data associated with thepositions of one or more areas of the driver's body seated within theseat 110 during the predetermined period of time. The driver dispositiondata may additionally include movements of one or more areas of thedriver's body seated within the seat 110 during the predetermined periodof time. For example, the driver disposition data may indicate positionsand movements relating to the driver's torso, arms, hands, trunk, legs,thighs, hips, back, neck, head, and the like, for the predeterminedperiod of time as the driver 122 is seated within the seat 110 and maydrive the vehicle 102. In some embodiments, upon receiving the driverdisposition data, the driver disposition determinant module 144 mayaccess the storage unit 126 to store the driver disposition data on thestorage unit 126 to be further accessed by the application 106.

The method 300 may proceed to block 304, wherein the method 300 mayinclude evaluating the driver disposition data and determiningpositional parameters associated with one or more areas of the driver'sbody. In one embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module 144may evaluate the driver disposition data that is provided by the sensors108, 112, 116 to analyze data points within the driver disposition datathat are associated with the individual (e.g., separate, distinct)positions of one or more areas of the driver's body that are sensed forthe predetermined period of time. Upon evaluation of the driverdisposition data provided by the sensors 108, 112, 116, the driverdisposition determinant module 144 may additionally evaluate the driverdisposition data that is provided by the camera(s) 138 to analyze datapoints within the driver disposition data that are associated withindividual positions of one or more areas of the driver's body that arecaptured for the predetermined period of time.

The driver disposition determinant module 144 may thereby extract datafrom the data points and may aggregate the data as sensed by the sensors108, 112, 116 and the data as captured by the camera(s) 138. The driverdisposition determinant module 144 may evaluate the aggregated data todetermine positional parameters that are associated with positions ofthe one or more areas of the driver's body sensed/captured during thepredetermined period of time. In other words, the positional parametersmay include values that indicate exact positions of the one or morespecified areas of the driver's body during the predetermined period oftime that they are sensed and captured.

In an alternate embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module144 may extract data from the data points of the driver disposition datareceived from the sensors 108, 112, 116. The module 144 may utilize thedata points derived from the sensor based driver disposition data toevaluate information associated with the positions of the one or morespecific areas of the driver's body (e.g., neck positions, backpositions, torso positions) that may be more clearly captured by thesensors 108, 112, 116 (as oppose to the camera(s) 138) to determine thepositional parameters that are associated with the one or morerespective areas of the driver's body. Accordingly, the positionalparameters may include values that indicate the exact positions of theone or more specified areas of the driver's body as determined from thedriver disposition data provided by the sensors 108, 112, 116.

The driver disposition determinant module 144 may additionally extractdata from the data points of the driver disposition data received fromthe camera(s) 138. The module 144 may utilize data points derived fromthe image based data to evaluate information associated with thepositions of one or more additional areas of the driver's body (e.g.,shoulder positions, hand positions, head positions) that may be moreclearly captured by the camera(s) 138 (as oppose to the sensors 108,112, 116) to determine the positional parameters that are associatedwith the one or more respective areas of the driver's body. Accordingly,the positional parameters may include values that indicate the exactpositions of the one or more specified areas of the driver's body asdetermined from the driver disposition data provided by the camera(s)138.

The method 300 may proceed to block 306, wherein the method 300 mayinclude evaluating the driver disposition data to determine one or moremovement parameters associated with respective areas of the driver'sbody. In one embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module 144may evaluate the driver disposition data that is provided by the sensors108, 112, 116 to analyze data points within the driver disposition datathat are associated with the individual movements of one or more areasof the driver's body that are sensed for the predetermined period oftime. Upon evaluation of the driver disposition data provided by thesensors 108, 112, 116, the driver disposition determinant module 144 mayadditionally evaluate the driver disposition data that is provided bythe camera(s) 138 to analyze data points within the driver dispositiondata that are associated with individual movements of one or more areasof the driver's body that are captured for the predetermined period oftime.

The driver disposition determinant module 144 may thereby extract datafrom the data points and may aggregate the data as sensed by the sensors108, 112, 116 and the data as captured by the camera(s) 138. The driverdisposition determinant module 144 may evaluate the aggregated data todetermine movement parameters that are associated with movements of theone or more areas of the driver's body sensed/captured during thepredetermined period of time. In other words, the movement parametersmay include values that indicate exact movements of the one or morespecified areas of the driver's body during the predetermined period oftime that they are sensed and captured.

In an alternate embodiment, the driver disposition determinant module144 may extract data from the data points from the driver dispositiondata received from the sensors 108, 112, 116. The module 144 may utilizethe data points derived from the sensor based driver disposition data toevaluate information associated with the movements of the one or morespecific areas of the driver's body (e.g., neck movements, backmovements, torso movements) that may be more clearly captured by thesensors 108, 112, 116 (as oppose to the camera(s) 138) to determine themovement parameters that are associated with the one or more respectiveareas of the driver's body. Accordingly, the movement parameters mayinclude values that indicate the exact movements of the one or morespecified areas of the driver's body as determined from the driverdisposition data provided by the sensors 108, 112, 116.

The driver disposition determinant module 144 may additionally extractdata from the data points from the driver disposition data received fromthe camera(s) 138. The module 144 may utilize data points derived fromthe image based data to evaluate information associated with themovements of one or more additional areas of the driver's body (e.g.,shoulder movements, hand movements, head movements) that may be moreclearly captured by the camera(s) 138 (as oppose to the sensors 108,112, 116) to determine the movement parameters that are associated withthe one or more respective areas of the driver's body. Accordingly, themovement parameters may include values that indicate the exact movementsof the one or more specified areas of the driver's body as determinedfrom the driver disposition data provided by the camera(s) 138.

The method 300 may proceed to block 308, wherein the method 300 mayinclude receiving vehicle dynamic data for the predetermined period oftime. In an exemplary embodiment, the driving activity determinantmodule 146 may communicate with the ECU 104 to receive vehicle dynamicdata associated the vehicle 102 as it is driven by the driver 122. Thevehicle dynamic data may be outputted as one or more values (e.g.,numeric levels) that are associated with the real-time dynamicperformance of the vehicle 102 as the driver 122 drives the vehicle 102for the predetermined period of time. For example, the vehicle dynamicdata may include data that includes one or more speed values of thevehicle 102, one or more steering angle values of the vehicle 102, oneor more braking force values of the vehicle 102, and the like.

The method 300 may proceed to block 310, wherein the method 300 mayinclude determining one or more strenuous driving activities associatedwith the driver 122. In one embodiment, the driving activity determinantmodule 146 may evaluate the vehicle dynamic data received for thepredetermined period of time and may determine one or more drivingmaneuvers that may have been conducted by the driver 122 that correspondto the vehicle dynamic data. The one or more driving maneuvers may beassociated with the real-time dynamic performance of the vehicle 102 asthe driver 122 drives the vehicle 102 for the predetermined period oftime. For example, the one or more driving maneuvers may include turningthe steering wheel 114 at a certain speed and direction at a certainnumber of degrees, pushing of the brake pedal at a certain force,pushing of an accelerator pedal at a certain force, and the like.

In one embodiment, upon determining the one or more driving maneuvers,the driving activity determinant module 146 may analyze the positionalparameters (determined at block 304) and movement parameters (determinedat block 306) that are associated with one or more areas of the driver'sbody. In particular, the driving activity determinant module 146 may beconfigured to analyze the positional parameters and the movementparameters pertaining to one or more instances of time that correspondto instances of time that each of the one or more driving maneuvers thatare conducted by the driver 122. Based on the analysis of the positionalparameters and the movement parameters, the driving activity determinantmodule 146 may determine positions and movements of one or more areas ofthe driver's body that are specifically utilized to conduct each of theone or more driving maneuvers during the predetermined period of time.

In an exemplary embodiment, the driving activity determinant module 146may evaluate the one or more types of driving maneuvers and thepositions and movements of areas of the driver's body to determine adegree of physical strain associated with each of the one or more ofdriving maneuvers conducted by the driver 122. The degree of physicalstrain may include a numerical value that may be based on the types ofpositions, the duration of each of the positions, the degree of themovements, and the duration of the movements of the one or more areas ofthe driver's body as the driver 122 conducts each of the drivingmaneuvers. Additionally, the degree of physical strain may be based onthe type of driving maneuver(s) (e.g., turning, accelerating, braking),a performance of the vehicle 102 during the driving maneuver(s) (e.g.,speed of the vehicle 102, yaw rate of the vehicle 102), a severity ofthe driving maneuver(s) (e.g., immediate braking, slowly braking),external pressures that may affect the positons or movements of one ormore areas of the driver's body (e.g., movement caused by inertialforce) and the like.

Upon determining the degree of physical strain associated with each ofthe one or more driving maneuvers, the driving activity determinantmodule 146 may evaluate the degree of physical strain associated witheach of the one or more driving maneuvers against one or morepredetermined thresholds (e.g., values) that may be selectively utilizedbased on the vehicle dynamic data of each trip and/or the duration ofeach trip of the vehicle 102 (e.g., based on the average speed, brakingforce, steering angles, and duration of the trip). The driving activitydeterminant module 146 may thereby determine the one or more strenuousdriving activities that may be associated with one or more areas of thedriver's body for the predetermined period of time.

In particular, if the degree of physical strain may be associated witheach of the one or more driving maneuvers that is determined to be aboveone or more of the predetermined thresholds that are selectivelyutilized, the driving activity determinant module 146 may determine theone or more driving maneuvers in addition to the related positions andmovements of the one or more areas of the driver's body as the one ormore strenuous driving activities. In one embodiment, upon determiningthe one or more strenuous driving activities, the driving activitydeterminant module 146 may output values (e.g., coordinate values) thatare associated with the one or more strenuous driving activities. Inparticular, the values may pertain to the positions and movements of oneor more particular areas of the driver's body used when conducting eachof the one or more driving maneuvers associated with the one or morestrenuous driving activities.

The method 300 may proceed to block 312, wherein the method 300 mayinclude determining predetermined code values that correspond to thepositional parameters, movement parameters, and/or one or more strenuousdriving activities. In an exemplary embodiment, the tension pointdeterminant module 148 may access the code lookup table 128 on thestorage unit 126 and may query the table 128 to retrieve one or morepredetermined code values that correspond to the positional parameters,movement parameters, and/or the values associated with the one or morestrenuous driving activities.

As discussed above, the predetermined code values may include specificcharacter and/or numerical designations (e.g., binary code) that may beassociated with particular positions of one or more areas of thedriver's body corresponding to the positional parameters. The specificcharacter and/or numerical designations may also be associated withparticular movements of one or more areas of the driver's bodycorresponding to the movement parameters. Additionally, the specificcharacter and/or numerical designations may be associated with thevalues that are associated with the one or more strenuous drivingactivities. Upon querying the code lookup table 128, the tension pointdeterminant module 148 may convert the positional parameters, movementparameters, and/or the values associated with the one or more strenuousdriving activities into the one or more corresponding predetermined codevalues as retrieved by the tension point determinant module 148.

The method 300 may proceed to block 314, wherein the method 300 mayinclude determining time durations that pertain to each of thepredetermined code values. Upon retrieving the one or more predeterminedcode values, the tension point determinant module 148 may evaluate thepositional parameters, movement parameters, and values associated withthe one or more strenuous driving activities and may determine timedurations (e.g., time based values) that pertain to each of thepredetermined code values. In particular, the time durations may beassociated with the amount of time (e.g., number of seconds/minutes)associated with each of the particular positions of one or more areas ofthe driver's body, each of the particular movements of one or more areasof the driver's body, and each of the positions and movements of one ormore areas of the driver's body corresponding with conducting the one ormore driving maneuvers associated with the one or more strenuous drivingactivities represented by the predetermined code values.

FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of a method 400 for processing andexecuting the massage plan according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4will be described with reference to the components of FIGS. 1 and 2,though it is to be appreciated that the method 400 of FIG. 4 may be usedwith additional and/or alternative system components. The method 400 maybegin at block 402, wherein the method 400 may include determining oneor more tension points associated with the driver 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tension point determinant module 148 mayevaluate the predetermined coded values and associated time durationsand may rank the predetermined coded values based on a description ofthe code value and/or the associated time duration. The tension pointdeterminant module 148 may access the tension point map 130 and may mapone or more tension points that pertain to specific areas of thedriver's body that may be substantially utilized based on the evaluationof the predetermined code values and the associated time durations.

In one or more embodiments, if more than one tension point isdetermined, the tension point determinant module 148 may rank thetension points based on the utilization of one or more areas of thedriver's body (e.g., tension points associated with areas of thedriver's body that are least utilized/tense to tension points associatedwith areas of the driver's body that are most utilized/tense). In anadditional embodiment, the tension point determinant module 148 may rankthe tensions points based on durations of positions and/or movements ofthe one or more areas of the driver's body such that areas of thedriver's body that are positioned or moved at/for a longer duration oftime are ranked higher. In an alternate embodiment, the tension pointdeterminant module 148 may rank the tension points that are based on theone or more strenuous driving activities higher than one or moreadditional tensions points that are based on the positions or movementsof the driver's body that are not associated with the one or morestrenuous driving activities. It is to be appreciated that the tensionpoint determinant module 148 may rank the tension points based on manyfactors that may be associated to the driver's positions, movements,vehicle dynamic data, driver settings, and/or additional sensor baseddata.

The method 400 may proceed to block 404, wherein the method 400 mayinclude evaluating the one or more tension points associated with thedriver to determine one or more regions 204-218 of the seat 110 that arein proximity to the one or more tension points. In an exemplaryembodiment, the massage execution module 150 may communicate with thetension point determinant module 148 to receive data associated with theone or more tension points. The massage execution module 150 mayevaluate the data and may determine one or more regions 204-218 of theseat 110 that are located within a predetermined proximity of the areasof the driver's body that pertain to the one or more tension points.

In some embodiments, the massage execution module 150 may additionallyevaluate the one or more massaging elements 202 that are located withinthe one or more determined regions 204-218 to determine one or morespecific massaging elements 202 that may be actuated to provide one ormore types of massaging to provide a highest amount of impact withrespect to the areas of the driver's body that pertain to the one ormore tension points.

The method 400 may proceed to block 406, wherein the method 400 mayinclude processing a massaging plan to be executed to massage the driver122 seated within the vehicle 102. In an exemplary embodiment, themassage execution module 150 may determine one or more types of tensionrelief massaging actions that may be conducted by the one or moremassaging elements 202 at the one or more determined regions 204-218 ofthe seat 110 (determined at block 404) to massage one or more specificareas of the driver's body pertaining to the one or more tension pointsassociated with the driver 122.

The massage execution module 150 may additionally process a massagingplan that includes computer executable instructions to actuate the oneor more of the massaging elements 202 at the one or more determinedregions 204-218 of the seat 110 in one or more manners and at one ormore durations. The massaging plan may include instructions to providethe one or more types of tension relief massaging actions at the one ormore regions 204-218 of the seat 110 by selectively actuating one ormore of the massaging elements 202 in a certain order, timeframe, andduration to massage one or more specific areas of the driver's bodypertaining to the one or more tension points associated with the driver122.

In one embodiment, when more than one tension point is determined (atblock 402), the massage execution module 150 may include instructions toprovide the one or more types of tension relief massaging actions in anorder, timeframe, and duration that is based on the ranking of thetension points as determined by the tension point determinant module 148(as discussed above with respect to block 402). In some embodiments, themassage execution module 150 may process the massaging plan to includeinstructions to provide default massaging actions (e.g., massagingactions associated with one or more default massaging modes of theapplication 106) that may be provided at one or more additional regions204-218 of the seat 110 in one or more intervals. The one or moreintervals may be provided in one or more timeframes that fall in betweenthe massaging of the one or more specific areas of the driver's bodypertaining to the one or more tension points. This functionality mayensure that additional areas of the driver's body may receive massagingbased on default massaging actions that are provided by one or more ofthe massaging elements 202 in addition to the one or more tension reliefmassaging actions.

The method 400 may proceed to block 408, wherein the method 400 mayinclude sending one or more commands to operably control one or more ofthe massaging elements 202 at one or more regions 204-218 of the seat110 to provide massaging based on the massaging plan. In one embodiment,upon processing the massaging plan, the massage execution module 150 maycommunicate one or more commands to the ECU 104 to control one or moreof the massaging elements disposed within the seat 110 to providemassaging based on the massaging plan.

In particular, the massage execution module 150 may communicate one ormore commands to one or more of the massaging elements 202 disposedwithin one or more regions 204-218 of the seat 110 to provide varioustypes of massaging actions (tension relief massaging actions, defaultmassaging actions) in accordance with the massaging plan. The massagingactions may be provided at one or more pressure levels by selectivelyactuating one or more of the massaging elements 202 in a certain order,timeframe, and duration to massage one or more specific areas of thedriver's body based on the massaging plan. The one or more massagingelements 202 may consequently massage one or more areas of the driver'sbody and may provide one or more tension relief massaging actions to oneor more areas that pertain to the one or more tension points as thedriver 122 is seated within the seat 110.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a method 500 for providing massagingwithin a vehicle 102 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5 willbe described with reference to the components of FIGS. 1 and 2, thoughit is to be appreciated that the method 500 of FIG. 5 may be used withadditional and/or alternative system components. The method 500 maybegin at block 502, wherein the method 500 includes determining at leastone position and at least one movement of the driver 122 seated withinthe seat 110. The method 500 may proceed to block 504, wherein themethod 500 includes determining at least one strenuous driving activityassociated with the driver 122.

The method 500 may proceed to block 506, wherein the method 500 mayinclude determining at least one tension point associated with thedriver 122. The method 500 may proceed to block 508, wherein the method500 may include processing a massaging plan that is based on the atleast one tension point. The method 500 may proceed to block 510,wherein the method 500 may include controlling at least one massagingelement 202 disposed within the seat 110 of the vehicle 102 to providemassaging based on the massaging plan.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description that variousexemplary embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware.Furthermore, various exemplary embodiments may be implemented asinstructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium,such as a volatile or non-volatile memory, which may be read andexecuted by at least one processor to perform the operations describedin detail herein. A machine-readable storage medium may include anymechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine, suchas a personal or laptop computer, a server, or other computing device.Thus, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium excludestransitory signals but may include both volatile and non-volatilememories, including but not limited to read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storagemedia, flash-memory devices, and similar storage media.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any blockdiagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitryembodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will beappreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transitiondiagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes whichmay be substantially represented in machine readable media and soexecuted by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer orprocessor is explicitly shown.

It will be appreciated that various implementations of theabove-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives orvarieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other differentsystems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen orunanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvementstherein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which arealso intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for providingmassaging within a vehicle, comprising: determining at least oneposition and at least one movement of a driver seated within a seat ofthe vehicle; determining at least one strenuous driving activityassociated with the driver; determining at least one tension pointassociated with the driver, wherein the at least one tension point isbased on at least one of: the at least one position of the driver, theat least one movement of the driver, and the at least one strenuousdriving activity associated with the driver; evaluating the at least onetension point and determining at least one region of the seat that is ina predetermined proximity to the at least one area of a body of thedriver that is associated to the at least one tension point; processinga massaging plan that is based on the at least one tension point; andcontrolling at least one massaging element disposed within the seat ofthe vehicle to provide massaging based on the massaging plan.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the at leastone position and the at least one movement of the driver seated withinthe seat includes receiving driving disposition data for a predeterminedperiod of time and determining positional parameters and movementparameters associated with at least one area of the body of the driver.3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining theat least one strenuous driving activity associated with the driverincludes receiving vehicle dynamic data for the predetermined period oftime.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein determiningthe at least one strenuous driving activity associated with the driverincludes evaluating the vehicle dynamic data and determining at leastone driving maneuver conducted by the driver during the predeterminedperiod of time.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, whereindetermining the at least one strenuous driving activity associated withthe driver includes analyzing the positional parameters, movementparameters, and vehicle dynamic data and determining at least oneposition and at least one movement of at least one area of the body ofthe driver associated with the at least one driving maneuver.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein determining the at leastone strenuous driving activity associated with the driver includes,determining that the at least one position and the at least one movementof at least one area of the body of the driver associated with the atleast one driving maneuver includes a degree of physical strain above apredetermined threshold.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6,wherein determining at least one tension point associated with thedriver includes determining at least one predetermined code value thatcorresponds to at least one of: the positional parameters, the movementparameters, and the at least one strenuous driving activity associatedwith the driver.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, whereindetermining at least one tension point associated with the driverincludes mapping the at least one predetermined code value to the atleast one tension point, wherein the at least one tension point isassociated with at least one area of the body of the driver.
 9. A systemfor providing massaging within a vehicle, comprising: a memory storinginstructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:determine at least one position and at least one movement of a driverseated within a seat of the vehicle; determine at least one strenuousdriving activity associated with the driver; determine at least onetension point associated with the driver, wherein the at least onetension point is based on at least one of: the at least one position ofthe driver, the at least one movement of the driver, and the at leastone strenuous driving activity associated with the driver; evaluate theat least one tension point and determining at least one region of theseat that is in a predetermined proximity to the at least one area of abody of the driver that is associated to the at least one tension point;process a massaging plan that is based on the at least one tensionpoint; and control at least one massaging element disposed within theseat of the vehicle to provide massaging based on the massaging plan.10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the at least one positionand the at least one movement of the driver seated within the seatincludes receiving driving disposition data for a predetermined periodof time and determining positional parameters and movement parametersassociated with at least one area of the body of the driver.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein determining the at least one strenuousdriving activity associated with the driver includes receiving vehicledynamic data for the predetermined period of time.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein determining the at least one strenuous drivingactivity associated with the driver includes evaluating the vehicledynamic data and determining at least one driving maneuver conducted bythe driver during the predetermined period of time.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein determining the at least one strenuous drivingactivity associated with the driver includes analyzing the positionalparameters, movement parameters, and vehicle dynamic data anddetermining at least one position and at least one movement of at leastone area of the body of the driver associated with the at least onedriving maneuver.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein determining the atleast one strenuous driving activity associated with the driverincludes, determining that the at least one position and the at leastone movement of at least one area of the body of the driver associatedwith the at least one driving maneuver includes a degree of physicalstrain above a predetermined threshold.
 15. The system of claim 14,wherein determining at least one tension point associated with thedriver includes determining at least one predetermined code value thatcorresponds to at least one of: the positional parameters, the movementparameters, and the at least one strenuous driving activity associatedwith the driver.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein determining atleast one tension point associated with the driver includes mapping theat least one predetermined code value to the at least one tension point,wherein the at least one tension point is associated with at least onearea of the body of the driver.
 17. A non-transitory computer readablestorage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer,which includes a processor perform a method, the method comprising:determining at least one position and at least one movement of a driverseated within a seat of a vehicle; determining at least one strenuousdriving activity associated with the driver; determining at least onetension point associated with the driver, wherein the at least onetension point is based on at least one of: the at least one position ofthe driver, the at least one movement of the driver, and the at leastone strenuous driving activity associated with the driver; evaluatingthe at least one tension point and determining at least one region ofthe seat that is in a predetermined proximity to the at least one areaof a body of the driver that is associated to the at least one tensionpoint; processing a massaging plan that is based on the at least onetension point; and controlling at least one massaging element disposedwithin the seat of the vehicle to provide massaging based on themassaging plan.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable storage mediumof claim 17, wherein determining at least one tension point associatedwith the driver includes determining at least one predetermined codevalue that corresponds to at least one of: positional parameters,movement parameters, and the at least one strenuous driving activityassociated with the driver.